Trinamool Congress vacates EM Bypass HQ in Kolkata amid landlord dispute
Synopsis
Trinamool Congress is vacating its temporary EM Bypass headquarters in Kolkata after its landlord — whose firm built every TMC stage including Martyrs' Day — reportedly withdrew cooperation following the party's Assembly election defeat. The dispute exposes both the organisational strain on the party and a telling rupture with a long-time loyalist.
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress began vacating its temporary headquarters on EM Bypass, Kolkata on the night of 17 June .
Building owner Monotosh (Montu) Saha demanded the premises back, reportedly after Trinamool's defeat in the Assembly elections .
Trinamool sources claim the party had a valid lease agreement with Saha until 2027 .
Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh and state president Chandrima Bhattacharya submitted rent receipts at Pragati Maidan police station .
Renovation of Trinamool's original EM Bypass building in Uttar Panchannagram remains incomplete; the party's next location has not been announced.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has begun vacating its temporary party headquarters located in a rented building on Eastern Metropolitan (EM) Bypass in east Kolkata, following a dispute with the building's owner. The shifting process commenced on Tuesday night, 17 June, with furniture, equipment, and office materials being moved out from the first and second floors.
How the Vacating Unfolded
Eyewitnesses reported that several goods-laden vehicles were parked outside the Trinamool building from Tuesday night, departing with the party's belongings by Wednesday morning. Items removed included chairs, tables, flex banners, and backdrops from the first and second floors, which served as a workers' seating area and a media centre respectively.
The Landlord Dispute
The five-storey building is owned by Monotosh Saha, popularly known as Montu Saha, whose company Modern Decorating had handled stage construction for all Trinamool Congress events — including the party's high-profile Martyrs' Day stage at Esplanade in central Kolkata on 21 July. However, relations between Saha and the party reportedly soured following the recently concluded Assembly elections, in which Trinamool suffered a significant defeat.
Saha allegedly asked party leaders to vacate the premises on multiple occasions, claiming his requests went unheeded. He reportedly approached the Pragati Maidan police station in connection with the matter. In response, Trinamool's Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh and state president Chandrima Bhattacharya also visited the police station, submitting rent receipts and other documents. According to Trinamool sources, the party had a lease agreement with Saha valid until 2027 — but Saha reportedly changed his position after the election results.
Background: Why the Building Was Used
The EM Bypass building became Trinamool's temporary headquarters after the demolition of the party's original building in the Uttar Panchannagram area of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass following the 2021 Assembly elections, when reconstruction work began. Renovation of that original building is reportedly still incomplete, leaving the party's permanent headquarters situation unresolved.
What Happens Next
With the temporary headquarters now being vacated, speculation is mounting that Trinamool will shift to another interim location while awaiting completion of its permanent building. No official announcement on the new location has been made by the party as of 17 June. The episode underscores the organisational and logistical pressures facing the party in the aftermath of its Assembly election setback.
Point of View
But the subtext is more revealing. Montu Saha was not a peripheral figure — his firm built the stage for Martyrs' Day, the party's most symbolically charged annual event. His reported withdrawal of cooperation after the election results is a signal of how quickly proximity to power can shift when electoral fortunes turn. The lease-versus-eviction dispute, now involving police, also suggests the party's post-election internal management is under strain. How Trinamool handles its headquarters question — and its relationship with erstwhile loyalists — will be an early indicator of how the organisation intends to rebuild.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Trinamool Congress vacating its EM Bypass headquarters in Kolkata?
Trinamool Congress is vacating the building after its owner, Monotosh 'Montu' Saha, reportedly demanded the premises back following the party's defeat in the Assembly elections. Saha allegedly made repeated requests to vacate, which the party did not initially act upon, leading him to approach the Pragati Maidan police station.
Who owns the building that served as Trinamool's temporary headquarters?
The building is owned by Monotosh Saha, also known as Montu Saha, whose company Modern Decorating handled stage construction for all Trinamool Congress events, including the Martyrs' Day programme at Esplanade in central Kolkata on 21 July.
Did Trinamool Congress have a valid agreement to use the building?
According to Trinamool sources, the party had a lease agreement with Saha valid until 2027. Party leaders Kunal Ghosh and Chandrima Bhattacharya submitted rent receipts and related documents at the Pragati Maidan police station to support this claim.
Where will Trinamool Congress shift its headquarters next?
No official announcement has been made on the new location. Speculation is that the party will move to another temporary premises while renovation of its original EM Bypass building in Uttar Panchannagram — still incomplete — continues.
Why was the EM Bypass building used as a temporary headquarters in the first place?
After the 2021 Assembly elections, Trinamool's original building on EM Bypass in Uttar Panchannagram was demolished for reconstruction. The five-storey building owned by Montu Saha was used as an interim headquarters since then, with its renovation still pending.
